It’s not the Olympics with a panel of judges recording decimal-pointed scores, but there were most certainly winners at Monday’s candidates forum.

Regardless of how the election turns out for the candidates who took their turns with the microphone and touted their positions, the real winners in the event are the voters. So often in small communities forums are a rarity, but they provide critical information on those who would represent us.

Without such events, candidates can simply be packaged with a carefully crafted message (sometimes formulated by others). They may never have to speak extemporaneously about issues other than what they already have for talking points.

But it’s in situations such as that hosted by the Bee County Chamber of Commerce that candidates have to speak to issues and questions submitted by others. It’s a good place to gauge how knowledgeable each is about various issues and how capable they are in an unvarnished arena – which is exactly where they’ll be operating if elected.

And while the voters are winners in this event, the Chamber of Commerce stands atop the podium. The Chamber is to be applauded for taking the time and making the effort to put this all together.

This is no money-maker. It is purely a public service that goes to the heart of a chamber’s charge: work to make your community better.

Attendance at the A.C. Jones High lecture hall and interest was up significantly from prior years. Regardless of bodies actually attending the event, many more will read this newspaper’s coverage at their leisure to find out more about those who would serve this community.

To have a successful forum like this, the hosting institution must have stature in the community and trust to be impartial with the candidates, which the Chamber does. The questions were drawn up in conjunction with the faculty at Coastal Bend College and then randomly drawn by the candidates.

Chambers of commerce typically operate something like a utility – always running in the background and providing a much needed service with little fanfare, welcoming visitors, guiding newcomers and promoting festivals.

New chamber executive director Lisa Del Bosque and the board of directors are to be applauded for stepping up to host this event. It may not be in the normal vein of traditional chamber activities, but it fills a critical need in the community.